Destination Discovery San Diego: Where to Stay, Spa, Snack & Sweat

Known to some as the “Plymouth of the West,” San Diego is so much more than just the birthplace of California. With landmarks like Petco Park, the San Diego Zoo, Torrey Pines State Reserve, and the Coronado Bridge, San Diego is a hub for tourists looking to explore, relax, and take in the sights.

Where to Stay

There are so many amazing resort and hotel options for a stay in San Diego County, from luxury garden villas to suites with sweeping ocean views. For those looking for an intimate respite from the world, look no further than the unbelievably gorgeous Rancho Valencia, the #1 resort in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report and one of this girl’s very favorite places to stay. With lush grounds, rustic design, and privates casitas that offer up high ceilings, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, walled-in patios, and bathrooms bigger and more luxurious than some homes complete with Natura Bissé amenities, Rancho Valencia is a property dreams are made of.

If seaside luxury is more your cup of tea, check out L’Auberge Del Mar, a Destination Hotel, once a hot spot for the Hollywood film stars of yesteryear. Situated on 5.2 acres in the coastal village of Del Mar, L’Auberge features rooms and suites with views of the Pacific Ocean or of the manicured gardens and come complete with fireplaces for chilly SoCal nights and private patios or balconies. Bring your favorite furry friend along, because the hotel is pet-friendly, and be sure to stop by the 5,000-square-foot oasis that is the Spa L’Auberge where results-oriented, coastal-inspired treatments await.

Set on 44 acres in secluded Mission Bay, Paradise Point, a Destination Hotel, offers an island setting with Balinese influenced bungalows surrounded by tropical gardens, lagoons, and a mile of sandy beach. Cozy up next to one of the beach bonfire pits or head to the island-inspired Spa at Paradise point for a truly exotic treatment.

Where to Spa

No vacation would be complete without a little R&R and no true R&R can happen without a trip to a spa. Stop by day spas like Spa Velia, with its old-world Italian feel, or the light and airy SpaBlue at Del Mar. Visit the Bergamot Spa and Boutique, with its Balinese gardens you’ll feel like you’ve been transported somewhere else. Here you can take a workshop, enjoy a tranquil meditation, or one of the many treatments.

For those seeking the hotel spa vibe, stop by the Sea Spa at Loews Coronado Bay Resort. The 15,000-square-foot Sea Spa is, much like its namesake, ocean-inspired, with a menu full of treatments from Fiji and Bali. There are even four outdoor treatment rooms in their own private gardens and the only Watsu massage pool in San Diego.  There’s also The Spa at Estancia La Jolla, where you can enjoy reflective time in the meditation garden and a balancing treatment in one of the outdoor bungalows.

Where to Snack

In the morning, stop by Choice Superfood Bar and Juicery in Carlsbad for a quick smoothie, juice, or breakfast bowl or for a longer decadent brunch affair, The Mission. For a light lunch head over to Fashion Valley Mall for a little True Food Kitchen action, the Kale-Aid is not to be missed, and when your craving for fish tacos hits, make your way to Pacific Beach Fish Shop. When dinner rolls around make a reservation at Juniper & Ivy, where top chef Richard Blais inspired menu will wow you with it’s west coast twist on classics.

Where to Sweat

Work off dinner and drinks with a bike though Balboa Park, a hike through Torrey Pines, where ocean views keep you motivated on the moderate trails, or get in the water and try a SUP Yoga class with San Diego Paddle Yoga. If you want to really work on your fitness while you’re in the area consider booking your stay with PFC Fitness Camp at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. Its total immersion “Spa Fit” program helps you lose weight and gain a positive mindset and a healthier lifestyle while you’re at it!